Lithium: A metal that floats on oil and powers our phones

longknife · Apr 13, 2014

By Laurence Knight, Business reporter, BBC News

Lithium, a key ingredient in lightweight batteries, is already powering the modern world, and could be key to getting the world to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels
Click to expand...

.

The BBC article @ http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26993915 suggests looking at Bolivia on a map. So I tried Bing Maps,. Then Google Earth where I could see it in the opening size. Heck! The entire area appears to be unbelievable desolate. Anyone ever been there?

DennisTate · Apr 21, 2014

longknife said: ↑

By Laurence Knight, Business reporter, BBC News

.

The BBC article @ http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26993915 suggests looking at Bolivia on a map. So I tried Bing Maps,. Then Google Earth where I could see it in the opening size. Heck! The entire area appears to be unbelievable desolate. Anyone ever been there?
Click to expand...

Been to Ecuador…… it was like a paradise…. but on the way to updating my visa by crossing the border to Colombia….. we passed through some desert areas that were seriously desolate!

waltky · Nov 20, 2017

Thought they had rare earth metals of their own...

China is winning electric cars 'arms race'
November 20, 2017: China is outmaneuvering the U.S. and other countries in the global scramble for a vital element for electric cars.

As demand for the vehicles surges, Chinese companies have been doing deals around the world to secure supplies of lithium, a silvery-white metal mined from rocks in Australia and brine pools in South America. China is the top market for electric and hybrid cars, accounting for roughly half of global sales, and the government is pushing the development of the industry within its borders. That calls for a lot of lithium, a key component of the vehicles' batteries. "Whoever controls the lithium supply chain will control the future of the electric vehicle space," said Simon Moores, managing director at research and data provider Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. "There's a global battery arms race."

China has limited lithium resources of its own, so it's looking abroad. In September, Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor (GWLLF) bought a stake in Pilbara Minerals (PILBF), an Australian lithium miner. Earlier this year, China's Ganfeng Lithium snapped up 20% of an Argentine project. Last year, China's Tianqi Lithium took a 2% stake in Chile's SQM (SQM), one of the world's top miners of the metal. The Chinese government has been quietly instructing state-owned enterprises to hunt down lithium resources outside China, according to Francois Perrin, a portfolio manager at investment firm East Capital. He predicts that over the next few years, China will wield increasing influence over the supply of lithium and other metals used in electric batteries.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said he didn't have any specific information on the trend of Chinese investment in lithium supplies. "We always strive to deepen economic cooperation with all countries in all fields, including in energy and auto sectors," he said in response to a question from CNN. "I wouldn't find it surprising if there is Chinese cooperation with other countries in mining certain minerals." The Chinese firms involved in the recent deals didn't respond to requests for comment. Neither did the National Development and Reform Commission, which helps guide the country's economic policies.

Beijing has a track record of directing Chinese companies to do its bidding, such as squeezing South Korea's tourism industry earlier this year over a dispute with Seoul over a U.S. missile defense system. It also has history of using crucial natural resources under its control as diplomatic weapons: it was widely accused of restricting exports in 2010 of a group of minerals that are vital for many high-tech devices. The pursuit of lithium for electric cars fits with Chinese President Xi Jinping's plans, according to analysts. "China's aggressive moves in the lithium sector speak to the country taking leadership around important issues such as public health and fighting climate change," said Chris Berry, founder of research firm House Mountain Partners. China wants to be a global leader in lithium, from mining the metal to processing it, he said.

MORE
Click to expand...

Log in or Sign up

Lithium: A metal that floats on oil and powers our phones

longknife New Member

DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

waltky Well-Known Member

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

Lithium: A metal that floats on oil and powers our phones

longknife New Member

DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

waltky Well-Known Member

Share This Page

Useful Searches